Oscillating cylinder piston meter



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oscILLATING CYLINDER PIsToN METER Filed 0ot l0, 194'? QvSheets-Sheet 6Jan. 9, 1951 A. L. GRISE oscILLATING CYLINDER PIsToN METER 9Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Oct. lO, 1947 R, mp. E NfY M W- ulo ml n A u Jan.9, 1951 A. l.. GRISE OSCILLATING CYLINDER PISTON Filed oct. 1o, 1947 9Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTO Jan. 9, 1951 A. L. GRISE 2,537,751

OSCILLATING CYLINDER PISTON METER Filed Oct. l0, 1947 9 Sheets-Sheet 9|NvENToR d ALF/'sfo L. GIP/.fz

Patented Jan. 9, 1951 OSCILLATING CYLINDER PISTON METER Alfred L. Gris,Springfield,

Mass., assigner to Gilbert & Barker Manufacturing Company,

West Springfield, Mass.

sachusetts a corporation of Mas- Application October 10, 1947, SerialNo. 779,096l

6 Claims.

This invention relates to liquid meters of the reciprocating piston typein which the reciprocation of the pistons causes the cylinders tooscillate and actuate valves controlling the admission of liquid to andthe discharge of liquid from the cylinders.

The invention has for its vide in a meter of the structural features andfor ease of manufacture, accuracy in operation.

The features of the invention will best be'understood in connection withthe detailed description of the one illustrative embodiment of it in theaccompanying drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a meter embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1,'

Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, `9 and 10 are sectional plan views taken on thelines 4 4, 5 5, 6 8, '1 -l', 8 8, 9 9, and I9 I0, respectively of Fig.3;

Fig. l1 is a sectional view taken on the line Il II of Fig. 6; and

Figs. 12 to 19 are diagrammatical views illustrative of the operation ofthe valve mechanism of the meter.

Referring to these drawings; the casing of the meter (Fig. 2) comprisestwo principal parts, a base casting l and a dome casting 2, the marginalflanges of which are clamped together with a gasket 3 therebetween, by aplurality of cap general object to protype described, variousarrangements providing durability and improved `screws 4. The twocastings are located accurately in proper relation by two dowel pins 4(Fig. l), xed in one casting and closely fitting holes in the othercasting. The dome 2 (Fig. 3) is hollow and affords within it a chamberwhich houses all the moving parts of the meter.

The meter makes use of single acting cylinders /of which there should beat least three and there may be more if desired. Referring to Fig. 5,three cylinders 6, have been shown. These are located generally radiallywith respect to the center of the chamber 5 and have their inner openends in constant communication with the chamber. Each cylinder containsin a suitable piston l, fixed by a nut i to a hollow piston rod 8, theouter end of which has ra perforated ear 9. The several ears are locatedat diierent levels, as shown in Fig. 3, and a sleeve i0 is passedthrough the perforations of all the ears.` This sleeve is rotatablymounted on an upstanding crankpin l I, iixed to a crank I2, which is xedto the upper end of a shaft I 3. The sleeve I0 is held in axial positionon the crankpin II between a ange on the lower end of the pin and a snapring I I', the latter being engaged in a circumierential groove near theupper end of the pin. The shaft I3 is rotatably mounted in two axiallyspaced sleeve bearings Ilifxed in a stud I5, the lower end of which isthreaded into base I at the center thereof. A snap ring I3', engaged ina circumferential groove in the lower end of shaft I3, prevents thelatter from moving upwardly. A thrust type ball bearing It is interposedbetween the lower face of the crank I2 and the upper end face of theupper bearing I4.

i rests on certain surfaces of an Each cylinder 6 is mounted ontrunnions for oscillation about a vertical axis. The upper wallA of eachcylinder has formed integrally therewith a trunnion I1, mounted in aball bearing I8, which in turn is mounted in a cylindrical recess formedin a cover I9. The latter is clamped to the top wall of dome 2, with agasket therebetween, by a plurality of screws 20. The lower trunnionsconsist of studs 2i indicated in Fig. 5. Each stud, as indicated in Fig.3, is threaded into base I and upstands therefrom. The of each stud 2lis rotatably received in the central hub 22 of a valve plate 2?.` Eachplate 23 is set into a counterbore in the lower end of an annular wall24 and secured thereto, as by screws 25 (see also Fig. 6). This wall 24forms a supporting base for the overlying cylinder 6. j*Within each wall2li is a cylindrical chamber 25, which is connected to the overlyingcylinder 5 by a vertical passage 2l, formed between the outer' end ofsuch cylinder and its rear wall 23. Liquid enters and leaves eachcylinder 6 by way of a passage 2 and chamber 25 and the valve thatunderlies such chamber. The valve plate 23 of each cylinder underlyingvalve seat plate 29, which is xed to base I coaxially of the trunnionsI7 and 2i. This plate 29 is held at a central point to base E by theflange on the upper end of a hollow screw 3i?, which encompasses stud 2|and is threaded into the base. The flange of screw 33 presses against agasket 3I and the latter against a shoulder formed in the counterbore ofthe central opening in the valve seat plate. The latter is further heldat spaced points about its periphery to base I by a plurality of screws32 (see also Fig. 7)

Fixed to the rear wall 28 of each cylinder 6 at its outer end is acylindrical rod 33 (Fig. 5) which extends forwardly in the cylinder andcoaxially thereof, serving as a slide for a sleeve bearing 34 (Fig. 3)xed in the tubular piston rod 8 near the inner end thereof. As will beclear from Fig. 5,

upper Aend Y as each piston 'i reciprocates in its cylinder to rotatethe crankshaft i3, the cylinder will be oscillated back and forth aboutthe common axis of its trunnions il and 2l by means of the piston rod 8.The motion is transmitted from each piston rod 8 to its cylinder 6through the rigid rod 33 on which the piston rod has a close slidingfit. No part of the piston proper is utilized for the purpose. Rod 33preferably has one or more longitudinal grooves 35 (Fig. 3) therein toallow liquid to freely enter and leave the space between the inner endof rod 33 and the interior wall of piston rod 8 and also to providelubrication for the engaged and relatively slidable surfaces of the tworods. The rods 33 also support their pistons i against the action ofgravity. The weight of each piston is borne by a rod 33 and the engagedand relatively slidable surfaces of the two rods 8 and 33 are betterdesigned to take the wear than is the piston leather of the pistonwhich, in ordinary constructions, is pressed by gravity against itscylinder wall at one location.

Referring next to Fig. 8, there are formed in base i beneath each valveseat 29, an inlet chamber 35 and an outlet chamber Si. bers at theirupper ends drical in form and are separated by a diametrically disposedpartition, comprising a central boss 3%, in which stud 2i is fixed, andtwo straight walls 33 extending in opposite directions from the boss tothe outer walls of the chambers. Each ci these partitions is located atright angles to a line extending from the center of crankshaft i3through the center of the boss 38. The three inlet chambers 35 arelocated adjacent each other in partial confronting relation and each isconnected to the other by a passage c (see also Fig. 9). The inletchambers 35 and the passages lill are located at an upper level in basel (Fig. 3), extending downwardly only about half way through the base.The main inlet passage il (Fig. 9) connects with one of the passagesdil. The outlet chambers Si are deeper than the inlet chambers, as shownin Fig. 3, and they are each interconnected by a passage 42 (Fig. 10)arranged at a lower level than the passage di). The main Outlet passageG3 connects directly with one of the discharge chambers 31.

The valve seat plates 2S will next be described.

Each such plate (Fig. 3) has a at lower face to rest on the at machinedupper race of the base i and is adapted to be clamped, liquid tight, tosaid upper face. All the plates 29 are shown in Fig. 7. Extendingthrough each plate are three angularly-spaced inlet ports it and threeangularlyspaced outlet ports d5. Each outlet port i5 is completelysurrounded by a marginal wall d5', raised slightly above the upper faceof plate 29 (Fig. ll) and having a fiat top surface to be engaged by thelower face of valve plate 23. Similar upstanding marginal walls itsurround the radial sides and the inner end of all the inlet ports Mexcept one which has a wall ril along one radial side only and along itsinner end. The outer end of each inlet port is open so that some liquidcan pass radially inward through the spaces d3 into the cylinder 6 for apurpose to be later described.

There are spaces i9 between each successive pair of ports in the valveseat plate except one. Each such space i9 is sealed olf from the domechamber by an outer marginal wall 5i! which interconnects the adjacentpair of radial walls Q5', or di' as the case may be. These spaces i9connect by their open inner ends 5i with an annular space 52 between theperipheral wall of These cham- .n are roughly semi-cylinthe counterboreof the central opening in plate 225i and the anged head of screw 30. Agroove 53 in stud 2i connects the space 52 to the chamber 2li of theoverlying cylinder (see Fig. 3). Liquid may thus enter several spaces i9and exert upward pressure on portions of the overlying valve plate 23 toolfset some of the down thrust of plate 23 on the valve seat plate 29.

The valve seat plate 29 is preferably formed of carbon and the uppersurfaces of all the inarginal walls d5', ri, il and 50 are finished sothat they all lie in the same plane. These surfaces are the bearingsurfaces for the valve plate and the total area of these bearingsurfaces has been reduced as low as is feasible. The radial walls (Fig.ll), and the outer end wall of each port (Fig. 3), is preferablybevelled as shown at 53. A dowel pin eli (Fig. 7) xed in base I engagesin a peripheral notch 55 in the valve seat pla-te 29 to accuratelylocate such plate in proper position on base I.

The valve plate 23 is shown in Fig. 6, looking downwardly on the same inthe same direction as Fig. 7, which shows the valve seat plate, wastaken. rlhis plate 23 has extending through it two inlet ports twooutlet ports 5i and a larger port 58 which serves part of the time as aninlet port and part of the time as an outlet port. The valve plate isaccurately located in proper -position in its seat in wall 2i!- by meansof a projection 53 on such wall engaging in a notch 60 in the valveplate. The two radial walls (Fig. 11) and the outer wall (Fig. 3) ofeach port in plate 2t is preferably bevelled as shown at -5| (see alsoFig. ll).

It should be noted that when a piston 1 is at either end of its stroke,all the inlet ports M and all the outlet ports d5 in its plate 2S areclosed. The overlying ported valve plate 23 moves just far enough toclose these ports without any overlap. This is shown diagrammatically inFigs. l2 and 16. It is also shown in Fig. 6 in connection with the lefthand pair of plates 23 and 29. As plate 23 turns to close either theinlet or the outlet ports, one radial edge of each such port in a plate23 moves toward a radial edge of the port which it controls in plate 29,until the two radial edges lie exactly one above the other in the samevertical plane. These ports are then exactly closed. This condition isshown in Fig. ll in connection with the ports 45 and 51. From the aboveexplanation, it will be clear why the inlet and outlet ports in Fig. 3appear to be vopen although actually they are closed. A vertical planepassed through the horizontal center line of the left hand pair ofplates 23 and 29 'in Fig. 6 will include one pair of meeting edges ofports iii and 5l and one pair of meeting edges of ports illand 56.Consequently, no surfaces have been cut to be cross hatched in Fig. 3.

The operation of the valve mechanism will best be understood from thediagrammatical views in Figs. l2 to 19 inclusive. These views showvarious steps in one complete cycle of operation of one valve mechanism,starting in Fig. l2 with the piston at outer dead center position,showing in Figs. 13, lli and l5 successive steps in the intake stroke ofthe piston, showing in Fig. 16 the parts in inner dead center position,and showing in Figs. i7, 18 and 19 successive steps in the dischargestroke of the piston. The cylinder 6, piston 's'. piston rod 8, andcrank l2, crankpin il, trunnion 2i and shaft i3 are represented merelyin conventional form. Only the ports '55, 51 and 58 of the valve plate23 are shown and only the 'ports 44 and 45 of the valve seat plate `29are" shown. The shaded areas represent the extent of effective portopenings. Rotation of the crankshaft I3 is counterclockwise, asindicated by the arrow. The cylinder and valve mechanism illustrated arethose shown in section in Fig. 3, or at the left in Fig. 5. When thepiston of this particular cylinder is in its outer dead center position,the crankshaft I3 is being turned by the piston in the precedingcylinder reckoned in a clockwise direction or the upper right handcylinder in' Fig. 5. rEhe piston in the other cylinder (lower right handcylinder 4in Fig. 5) is on its discharge stroke. The power and dischargestrokes of the three pistons overlap one another by 60 degrees. There isalways one piston acting to turn the crankshaft I 3 and part of the timethere are two such pistons acting to turn the crankshaft.

Referring now to Fig. 12, the discharge ports e5 have just been closedand the piston 7 is about to move outwardly and, as it does so, thecylinder E, and the valve plate 23 carried thereby, will be moved on itstrunnions in a clockwise direction. The port 5S will move to partiallyoverlap the adjacent inlet port de. and the ports 5S will move topartially overlap the other two inlet ports, whereby liquid underpressure from the inlet 43| will enter the rear end of cylinder to movethe piston l therein outwardly. The amount of overlapping of thedescribed ports and thus the effective intake port area increases as thepiston advances, slowly at first and then more rapidly until the portsare nearly wide open when the piston has reached the position shown inFig. 13. The inlet ports become wide open when the piston has movedoutwardly far enough so that the rod 8 and crank l2 are at right angles,as shown in Fig. 14 the cylinder S having then been swung in a clockwisedirection as far as possible. Further .n

outward movement of this piston will then cause the cylinder S to swingin a counterclockwise direction. The inlet ports then begin to close,slowly at first, then rapidly, when the piston is positioned as in Fig.15, then more slowly as the piston near the end of its power stroke andfinally the ports close fully when the piston reaches its inner deadcenter position shown in Fig. 16. At this time, the crankshaft I3 isbeing turned by the piston in the cylinder at the lower right in Fig. 5.The cylinder continues to swing clockwise so that the port 5S in thevalve plate begins to overlap the adjacent discharge port 45 in thevalve seat plate and the two ports 5l in such plate begin to overlap theother two discharge ports 155. Liquid will now be forced out of thiscylinder t into the outlet d3. The discharge ports open slowly at first,then more rapidly as the piston moves into` the position shown in Fig.17 becoming fully open when the piston reaches the position shown inFig'. 18. The cylinder 6 has now reached the other extreme of itscounterclockwise movement. Further inward movement of the piston willswing the cylinder 6 in a clockwise direction so that the dischargeports will begin to close, as shown in Fig. 19, and become fully closedwhen the piston reaches its outer dead center position shown in Fig. 12.

The crankshaft i3 (Fig. 3) is arranged to drive a register of anysuitable kind through a variable speed transmission which is operable,manually or automatically, to vary the speed ratio between thecrankshaft I3 and the driven shaft E2, which carries a coupling element83, adapted for connection to a mating coupling element (not shown) onthe driving shaft of the register. This shaft 62 is mounted with itsaxis vertically disposed in the cross bar portion S of a bracket, havingspaced legs t5 and te (see also Fig. 1) jwhich are secured as by capscrews 6l to the dome casting -2. Fixed to the lower end of shaft 62(Fig. 3) is a bevel gear 68, meshing with a bevel gear 69 on a shaft ld,which is rotatably mounted at its ends one in each of the legs 65, S6 bymeans of the ball bearings ll. The shaft lil is held against axialmovement between said bearingsas shown. Shaft 'Hihas integral therewitha hardened cylindrical portion l2, forming a roll. Beneath shaft l@ is ashifter element (Figs. 3 and 4) comprising two axially-aligned rods 'i3and 'I4 and an intervening yoke "l5, which is pinned to each rod. TheArods I3 and lli are mounted for sliding movement in the direction oftheir common axis, one in leg Ab5 and the other in leg 66. Rod 'I4 (Fig.3) has a pin 'i6 fixed to and extending diametrically through it withprojecting ends which ride one in each of two slots ll. These slotsparallel the axis of the rods and are formed in the boss in which rod Mis slidably mounted. The pin 16 prevents the rod l, and connectedelements lf3 and l5, from turning but allows them to slide axially. Aspring 'i3 (Figs. 3 and 4) on rod '3 acts between leg B5 and yoke l5 tomove the latter to the right. Movement of yoke 'I5 to the left may beeffected, manually or automatically, as will later be described. Beneaththe yoke 'le is a gear 19, rotatable on a vertical axis and havingannular track 'it'. Mounted in yoke 15 (Fig. 3) are two superposed balls86. One ball rests on track le'. The other ball rests on top of thefirst ball and engages the roll l2 on shaft 1l). Eachv ball SlFig. 4)closely fits between the flanged heads tl of a pair of studs liXed inaxial alignment in the yoke and engaging the ball at diametricallyopposite points. wise held between a pair of rollers 82, rotatablymounted in the yoke with their axes paralleling those of the studs.These rollers are located one on each side of its ball and engage thelatter at diametrically opposite points. As viewed in plan, each ball isengaged at four points, spaced ninety Ydegrees apart. The two balls havepoint contact with eachother and the upper ball has point contact withroll "i2, while the lower ball has point contact with track lf3'. Thegear i9 is rotatably mounted by means of a ings 83 on a vertical stud t4fixed to dome 2. Encompassing the lower part of stud 34 is a thrust typeball bearing 85, having one race resting on top of dome 2 and the othersupporting a washer 86. A spring 8l, encircling the depending hub ofgear le, acts between washer 86 and the gear to press the latterupwardly, forcing the track 79 against the lower ball 88, the lower ball80 against the upper ball et, and the latter against roll i2. Ilheseparts are forced together under considerable pressure, suflicient toprovide a nonslip transmission between the gear 'i9 and shaft 70. Thegear l is driven by a pinion 88, xed on the upper and outer end of avertical shaft 89. The lower and inner end of this shaft has fixedthereto a crank et, perforated to receive an extension 9! of thecrankpin Il. Thus, the shaft 62 may be driven from the crankshaft I3,which in turn is driven by the liquid-pressure actuated pistons 1.

The shaft 8e is preferably mounted in a manner f to permit easy assemblyin or removal from dome 2. As shown in Fig. 3, it is mounted near itsends fixed to its upper face a hardened Each ball is likepair of radialball bear-- top flange S which is clamped by several screws 96 to thedome 2 with a gasket 91 therebetween. Within case 93 are upper and lowerseal rings 98, encompassing shaft 89 and forced apart by a spring sa onthe shaft to engage seats, one on the top face of bearing 92 and theother on the lower face of the plug 96. Leakage of liquid from chamber 5along shaft 89 is prevented by the seal rings 93 and leakage from saidchamber past flange 95 is prevented by the gasket S1. The case 93, withthe shaft ils mounted therein and carrying the gear 88 and crank 90together with the seal rings, may be removed from the dome 2 as one unitafter screws 90 have been removed.

For adjusting the variable speed transmission manually, a screw |00(Fig. 3), threaded in an arm |0|, supported by the leg 66 of the bracketdescribed, is arranged to engage the outer end of rod ld, Assuming arm|0| to be held stationary, the rod id and connected parts may be causedto move radially inward or outward as the screw |150 is turned. Thisscrew has a head |02, by means of which it may be turned. The peripheryof this head may be provided with graduations |02 to be read withreference to a pointer |03 (see also Fig. 4), fixed to the top of arm|0|. A lock nut |04 is provided on screw |00 to engage arm and hold thescrew in its various positions of adjustment.

To enable the variable speed transmission to be automatically adjusted,as for example to compensate for variations in temperature of the liquidpassing through the meter, the arm |0| is made as part of a lever,pivotally mounted on a stud |05, the ends of which are mounted one ineach of a pair of spaced ears |06 (Fig. 2) between which the lever isheld. The other arm |0'| (Fig. 3) of this lever extends horizontallyoutwardly and has threaded in its outer end a screw |08, which extendsvertically below the arm |01 and has fixed to its lower end a ball |09.This screw |08 may be adjusted in its arm |81 by turning the slottedcylindrical head l0 of the screw by means of a screw driver. This headmay be provided with graduations which may be read with reference to agraduation ||2 (Fig. 1) on arm It?. A lock nut |13 is provided to holdthe screw iS to arm |0 in its various positions of adjustment.

The ball |59 bears against a flange llt on the piston element ||5 of athermostat. Such element is slidably mounted in the bore |16, of acylinder lil formed on the outer end of a member |S, which extendsthrough and is supported from a wall of the dome 2. Member H8 has apassage ||9 extending from the inner end of bore lit to a tube |20,which is fixed at one end to the member HS and has its other end closed.This tube is bent to form two coils (Fig. 5) which are located withinthe chamber 5 in contact with the liquid. To prevent leakage, thecylinder ||'l and the piston H5 are interconnected by an expansible andcontractible bellows |Z| (Fig. 3), secured at one end to the inner endof the cylinder and at the other end to the piston. Holes 22 in theinner end of cylinder sleeve permit liquid to ilow 4back and forth intoand out of the bellows |2| as the piston moves outwardly or inwardly,respectively, in its cylinder. The member ||8 has on its inner end aliange which abuts the inner end face of a bushing |23,

'threaded into a side wall of dome 2. The outer end of member ||8 isthreaded to receive a nut |24, .by which it is clamped to the bushing|23. This nut has a hollow extension |25, which encases the cylinderbellows |2| and piston I5, except for the outer end of the latter whichengages ball |00.

It will be clear that as the temperature of the liquid in chamber 5rises, the liquid in tube |20 will expand and force the piston H5outwardly, thus rocking the lever |0I, |01 on its pivot |05 and forcingrod 'i4 and yoke 15 radially inward with respect to track 19', thusdecreasing the speed ratio between the crankshaft |3 and shaft t2 tocompensate for expansion of the liquid. Also, as the temperature of theliquid in chamber 5 falls, the liquid in the tube |20, will contract,whereupon spring 13 will shift the yoke 'i5 radially outwardly withrelation to the track 19', forcing rod 'Hl outwardly and rocking leverlill, |01, clockwise as far as permitted by the piston H5 of thethermostat. Thus, the shaft |52 will be driven somewhat faster tocompensate for the contraction of the liquid.

The crankshaft I3 and the hollow stud |5 extend through the base into arecess 12E (Fig. 3). To prevent leakage from the chamber 5 past shaft i3this recess is normally closed by a plate |27 and gasket |23, both heldto the base by cap screws |29.

Suitable legs, such as |30 (Fig. 2), may be provided on .base I tosupport the meter.

The dome casting 2 of the meter (Fig. 1) is preferably provided with aplurality of bosses i3| having tapped holes |32 therein. The brackets,which support the register, may rest on the bosses |3| and be held thereby screws threaded into holes |32.

The meter is initially adjusted so that the register, which it drives bymeans of shaft $2, will indicate one gallon when the liquid dischargedby the meter at sixty degrees Fahrenheit equals exactly one gallon or231 cubic inches. Calibration of the meter is eected by turning screw|00 until the register shows the correct quantity when the abovequantity of liquid at the stated temperature is discharged from themeter. The adjustment is then fixed by turning up the lock nut IMagainst the arm With the meter calibrated as described, the operatorwill adjust the screw |08 for whatever gravity oil is to be measured.Oils of different gravities have different coefficients of expansion andit is necessary to adjust the meter, when ever a liquid having adifferent coefficient of expansion is to be measured. The operator mayhave a chart showing the proper setting of the screw, as indicated bythe graduations for oils of various gravities. Thus, for any particularoil, the operator can set the screw |08 properly to yield the correctmeasurement.

Having set the meter for the proper coefciem of expansion of the liquidto be measured, the thermostat will respond to variations in temperature of the liquid. passing through the meter and automaticallydrive shaft 52 slower or faster than the normal rate for liquid at sixtydegrees Fahrenheit, accordingly as the temperature of the liquid isabove or below sixty degrees, so that when the register indicates onegallon, the quantity of liquid delivered by the meter will equal onegallon, when brought to the normal temperature or" sixty degrees. Whenthe liquid is above normal temperature more than 231 cubic inches willbe delivered, when the register shows one gallon, but when the liquiddelivered is reduced` to the normal temperature it will occupy just 231cubic inches. If the liquid is below normal temperature, less than 231cubic inches will be delivered when the register indicates one gallonbut, when this quantity of liquid is raised to normal temperature, itwill expand so as to occupy exactly 231 cubic inches. The operation ofthe valve mechanism, effected by oscillation of the cylinders E has beenfully explained heretofore.

It should be noted that liquid is kept in circulation in the chamber 5.This is effected by allowing some liquid fromthe inlet All (Fig. 3) topass into chamber 5 through a hole 33 in base l and by allowing liquidto leave the charnber 5 by way of the described spaces i8 (Fig. '7) ineach valve seat plate 29 and thence by inlet ports e4, chamber 26 andpassage 2i' into each cylinder 6 to be subsequently discharged from thecylinder in the normal way above described. Each cylinder E acts to takein some of the liquidfwhich it lmeasures, from the chamber i. The threecylinders act in succession in counterw clockwise order, as viewed inFig. 5, each cylinder continuing to draw in liquid through the spaces 48for an interval after the next cylinder in the series has started todraw in liquid. The ar rangement keeps the liquid circulating in chamber5 sufnciently so that the temperature in the chamber 5 will be the sameas in the inlet 4l.

The construction described has many advantages which enable economicalmanufacture. The base I is an ordinary casting with all chamn bers andpassages formed therein by casting. The lower trunnions 2l and the studl5, which contains the bearings iii for the crankshaft i3, are madeseparate from the base so that the upper face of the base may be asingle flat surface, capable of being machined at one operation. Asidefrom finishing the top face of base l, all that remains to be done is todrill and tap the holes for screws and 32 and for trunnions 2l and studl! and to drill the holes for dowel pins :i and 513. Both the inlet 4land outlet 43 are in the base l so that the dome 2 may be removedwithout disconnecting the piping. The cylinders 6, pistons l and allother moving parts may all be assembled on the base i before the dome 2is applied. Each cylinder may be made as a simple die casting with nomachining required, except drilling and tapping of holes -for the screwswhich hold its valve plate 23 in place Since each valve plate isseparate from its cylinder, the latter can be formed by die casting andalso the valve plates can be readily machined. The valve seat plateshave to be rmachined and tapped and, being of carbon, a bearinglseparate from the seat is provided for the lower trunnion of theoverlying cylinder. Each cylinder has upper and lower trunnions. All thecylinders are of equal height and alike in every respect as are thevalve seat plates and valve plates. The valve plates are held to theirseats by hydraulic pressure but liquid is admitted to the spaces 5c inthe valve seat plates to press upwardly on the valve plates and Gifs-etseme of the rdownward pressure acting to press the valve plates againstthe relatively narrow lands of the valve seat plates. The area offrictional engagement between these plates and the pressure holding themin engagement is made as small as feasible so that the plates will turneasily without leakage between them.

The construction described eliminates all side thrust of the pistons ontheir cylinders. As the y end thereof.

2. A liquid meter, comprisnga base having a crankshaft I3 rotates, theconnecting rods 8 turn the cylinders on their trunnions and maintain theconnection between the pistons and crankpin always in a straight linewhich coincides with the axis of the cylinders. The thrust on eachpiston is always in the direction of its axis so that there is no sidethrust on it as is the case where the cylinders are fixed. Thesupporting rods 33 on which the piston rods 8 slide take the weight ofeach piston from the peripheral wall of its cylinder and thetransmission from each rod 8 to its cylinder foroscillating the saineexcludes the piston, thereby eliminating side thrust. rlhis arrangementcontributes both to durability and accuracy of operation.

Thevalve mechanism enables accuracy in operation and yet lends itself toease of manufacture. The plates 23 and 29 may be manufactured inquantities at low unit cost and located with close accuracy by the meansdescribed on the base l or cylinder 6, as the case may be, so as tocontrol the opening and closing of the ports with precision relative tothe reciprocation of the pistons. As described above, the outlet portsof each cylinder close and the. inlet valves for each cylinder openexactly at the end of the outward stroke of the piston for such cylinderand the inlet ports of each cylinder close and the outlet ports openexactly at the end of the inward stroke of the piston. Close accuracy ofmeasurement is had even when the meter is operated at a small fractionof its capacity.

The invention thus provides in a meter of the reciprocating piston type,wherein the cylinders oscillate to actuate the valves, improved strucfture enabling ease of manufacture, and provid ing improved durabilityand improved accuracy of operation.

I claim:

l. A liquid meter, comprising, a base, a shaft mounted in said base andupstanding therefrom at right angles, a plurality of single-actingcylinders each having a closed outer end and an open inner end, saidcylinders being mounted on and with their axes in parallel relation withsaid base and with their open inner ends in adjacent relation andclosely adjacent said shaft, said cylinders being angularly spaced in acircular se ries around said shaft, a crank on said shaft, a pistonreciprocable in each cylinder, rods one for each cylinder and each fixedat its outer end to the cuter and closed end of its cylinder andextending coaxially thereof toward and terminating closely adjacent tothe open end thereof, hollow piston rods one .for each piston each fixedat its outer end to its piston and being slidably mounted on afirst-named rod, each piston rod having a closed inner end'pivotallyconnected to said crank, each cylinder being pivcted to said base foroscillation about an axis parallel with said shaft,`each piston rodbeing swung back and forth by the crank during each stroke and actingthrough its first-named rod and the closed end of its cylinder tooscillate the latter, and. valve means on each cylinder actuated by theoscillation thereof to control the admission of liquid tc'and thedischarge of liquid from the closed plane upper face, a hollow postsecured to said base and upstanding from said face at right anglesthereto; three circular valve seat plates resting on said face, equallyspaced angularly in a circular series around said post, andsubstantially tangential thereto; each said plate being fixed to saidbase and having inlet and outlet ports therethrough, said base havinginlet and outlet passages respectively communicating with said inlet andoutlet ports, a crankshaft journalled in said hollow post with its cranklocated above the top of the post, three single-acting cylinders havingtheir axes paralleling said face and having open inner ends confrontingsaid crankshaft; each cylinder having a closed outer end, a hollowcylindrical supporting member affording within it a chamber, and havinga passage connecting the cylinder near its closed end to said chamber; acircular valve plate secured to said hollow cylindrical member andhaving inlet and outlet ports therethrough and closing the bottom ofsaid chamber except for such ports, said valve plates resting on androtatable relative to said seat plates, trunnions one for each cylindereach connecting its supporting member to the base for oscillation aboutthe common axis of the superposed valve and seat plates, a pistonreciprocable in each cylinder, a piston rod for each piston and iixed atone end thereto, the other end of each piston rod being pivotallyconnected to said crank, each piston rod having an opening extendingfrom its outer end and the outer side of said piston through and. beyondthe latter and terminating adjacent its pivotal connection to saidcrank, and guide rods one for each cylinder and each fixed at one end tothe closed end of its cylinder and projecting coaxially oi the latterinto said opening in the piston rod, each piston rod as it reciprocatesswinging back and forth and through its guide rod swinging its cylinderabout its axis of oscillation to shift the ports in the valve platerelatively to the ports in the seat plate to control the admission ofliquid to and the discharge of liquid from its cylinder.

3. A liquid meter, comprising, a base having a plane upper face, acylindrical hollow post xed to the base centrally thereof and upstandingfrom said face, a crankshaft journalled in said hollow post, threetrunnions iixed to said base and upstanding from said face with their'axes p-aralleling the axis of said crankshaft, said trunnions beingequally spaced radially from said crankshaft and equally spacedangularly one from another in a circular series, said base having inletopenings therein one between each trunnion and said post and eachextending downwardly from said face, said base having therein an inletchamber connecting at its end portions with said inlet openings, saidbase having three outlet openings therein one adjacent each inletopening and on the opposite side of the adjacent trunnion, said basehaving therein a discharge chamber underlying the inlet chamber with endportions extending beyond the corresponding end portions of the inletchamber and connecting one with each outlet opening, circular seatplates xed to said face of the base and one encompassing each trunnionin coaxial relation, each seat plate overlying the adjacent pair ofinlet and outlet openings and having through it inlet and outlet portsrespectively communicating with such inlet and outlet openings, circularvalve plates turnably mounted one on each trunnion and resting on a seatplate, each valve plate having inlet and outlet ports respectivelymovable into and out of communication with the inlet and outlet ports inthe seat plate as the valve plate is turned about the axis of itstrunnion, three single-acting cylinders each having a piston-receivingbore the axis of which par- 12 allels said face and having a supportingmember of hollow cylindrical form affording a chamber below said bore;each cylinder having a closed outer end, an open inner end, and apassage connecting the outer end of its bore to the chamber in saidmember; said valve plates being fixed one to each supporting member andforming the bottom wall of the chamber therein, said members beingsubstantially tangential to said post, a guide rod fixed to the closedend of each cylinder and extending coaxially of the cylinder toward andterminating near its inner end, a hollow piston rod slidably mounted oneach guide rod and having a closed outer end pivotally connected to thecrank of said crankshaft. and a piston fixed to the inner end of eachpiston rod.

4. In a liquid meter, a base, a valve seat plate fixed thereto andhaving inlet and outlet ports therethrough, a trunnion xed to the baseand extending with its axis at right angles to the base through saidplate coaxially thereof, a hcllow screw encompassing the trunnion andthreaded into the base for holding the central part of the plate to thebase, said plate having relatively narrow lands upstanding from it andembordering the ports therein and the spaces between such ports, saidbase having inlet and outlet passages respectively communicating withthe inlet and outlet ports, a cylinder, a valve plate iixed to thecylinder and resting on said lands, said valve plate mounted to turn onsaid trunnion and having inlet and outlet ports therethrough, saidcylinder having a piston-receiving bore with its axis at right angles tothat of said trunnion, said cylinder having a head closing its outer endand having an open inner end together with a passage connecting theouter end of said bore to both the inlet and outlet ports of the valveplate, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a piston rod fixed at itsouter end to the piston, a shaft rotatively mounted in said base, acrank fixed on said shaft and pivotally connected to the inner end ofsaid rod, whereby as the piston reciprocates in the bore of its cylinderthe latter is oscillated about the axis of said trunnion to turn theValve plate on the seat plate and shift the ports in the fermerrelatively to the latter to control the admission of liquid to and thedischarge of liquid from the cylinder, a hollow dome mounted on the baseand enclosing the parts mounted thereon, said base having a passageconnecting said inlet passage to the interior ci the dome for admittingliquid to press the valve plate against the lands on the seat plate, thelatter having an annular recess surrounding said hollow screw and closedby the overlying valve plate, the seat plate having passages connectingeach said space in the seat plate with said annular recess and therebeing a passage between the trunnion and its bearing in the valve platefor connecting said annular recess to said passage in said cylinder,whereby liquid under pressure may be admitted to said spaces tocounteract some of the pressure acting to hold the valve plate to thelands on the seat plate.

5. In a liquid meter, a base having a plane upper face and main inletand outlet passages therein opening through said face, a valve seatplate xed to said face of the base and having therethrough inlet andoutlet ports respectively communicating with said inlet and outletpassages, said plate having upstanding from its upper face relativelynarrow lands embordering the ports therein and the spaces between saidports, a cyl- 13 connecting the cylinder and of the cylinder about anaxis said face, a valve plate xed resting on said lands and havinder, atrunnion base for oscillation at right angles to to the cylinder and inginlet and outlet ports therethrough, said cylinder having apiston-receiving bore the axis of which parallels said face and apassage connecting such bore to both the inlet and outlet ports in thevalve plate, a piston in said cylinder, a rod xed at its inner end tothe piston, a shaft rotatively mounted in said base with its axisparallel to said axis of oscillation, a crank xed at one end to theshaft and pivotally connected at its other end to the inner end of thepiston, whereby as the piston reciprocates in its cylinder the latter isturned back and forth about said axis of oscillation to turn the valveplate on the seat plate and shift the ports in the valve platerelatively to the ports in the seat plate to control the admission ofliquid to and the discharge of liquid from said cylinder, a dome mountedon said base forming a chamber housing the cylinder, piston rod, crankshaft and valve and seat plates, said base having a by-pass passageextending from the main inlet passage to said chamber, to admit liquidunder pressure into said chamber to press the valve plate against thelands on the seat plate, said seat plate having a central chambercommunicating with all said spaces and there being a passage connectingthe lastnamed chamber to said passage in the cylinder, whereby liquidunder pressure is admitted to said spaces to press upwardly on the valveplate and counteract some of the downward pressure thereon.

6. In a liquid meter, a base having therein a single inlet chamber and asingle outlet charnber and inlet pipe and outlet pipe connections to theinlet and outlet chambers respectively, said base having a plane upperface and main inlet and outlet passages extending upwardly from theinlet and outlet chambers respectively to said face, a valve seat platexed to said face of the base and having therethrough inlet and outletports respectively communicating with said inlet and outlet passages,said plate having upstanding from its upper face relatively narrow landsembordering the ports therein 'and the spaces between said ports, acylinder, a trunnion connecting the cylinder and base for oscillation ofthe cylinder about an axis at right angles to said face, a valve platefixed to the cylinder and resting on the lands of the seat plate andhaving inlet and outlet ports therethrough, said cylinder having apiston-receiving bore the axis of which parallels said face and apassage connecting such bore to both the inlet and outlet ports in thevalve plate, a piston in said cylinder, a rod fixed at its inner end tothe piston, a shaft rotatively mounted in said base with its axisparallel to said axis of oscillation, a crank xed at one end to theshaft and pivotally connected at its other end to inner end of thepiston, whereby as the piston reciprocates in its cylinder the latter isturned back and forth about said axis of oscillation to turn the valveplate on the seat plate and shift the ports in the valve platerelatively to the ports in the seat plate to control the admission ofliquid to and the discharge of liquid from said cylinder, a dome mountedon said base forming a chamber housing the cylinder, piston rod, crank,shaft and valve and seat plates, said base having a by-pass passageextending from the main inlet passage to said chamber, and said seatplate having a relatively small passage from one of its inlet ports tosaid chamber, the flow of liquid to the cylinder being divided, a largerpart coming directly from the main inlet passage in the base to theinlet port and a smaller part coming through said last-named smallpassage from said chamber and by-pass passage, whereby to keep theliquid in said chamber in circulation.

ALFRED L. GRIs.

REFERENCES C ITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

